Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Under the Cherry Blossom Tree

(CAPTAIN WANG)

I don't know how I will breach this subject to Dayu.

But I have to...

So after dinner, I asked him to walk with me beside the man made lake inside our estate. The moon is full tonight. It's bright light reflected in the calm water of the lake, being gently disturbed by the night breeze.

Everytime I will see this lake and the lone cherry bloosom tree beside it that I personally plant there some ten years ago, I cannot help myself but go back to our time in Hanzong. A time when Dayu is too innocent about loving but lethal enough to kill every general in his way to avenge his parents.

Now, as I watch the man who changed my whole life, I cannot help but feel proud of myself that we are here together.

We survived and didn't gave up, even when there are times that the self imposed separation that Dayu decided as our punishment was too much to take. That it almost drove me insane.

I reach out to take Dayu's hand in mine while we walk the pathway around the lake. He smiled at me.

"The Emperor is insisting on Wang Hua marrying Prince Jin, his first born son." I said regretfully.

Dayu's smile vanished and he grew quiet for a few moment, "He can insist but that doesn't mean we will give in. Hua is too young to be married. And she will not marry some Royalty..." he said with conviction.

"We will say no, even if the Emperor became our enemy?"

Dayu got silenced again. Then he sighed, "I can make anyone my enemy if it means protecting our children," he said.

That answer doesn't surprised me. Dayu is stubborn, determined and no one can tell him what to do unless it's his Uncle Shu.

We continued walking, hand in hand. "If not Royalty, who is enough to marry our Hua?" I asked because I am curious about what kind of man Dayu wants for our daughter.

"Someone who will love and protect her with his life." Dayu said. We stopped and turn to each other. I watch the moonlight reflecting from the water on the lake dance on his beautiful face.

For me, Dayu is still the most beautiful creature I have seen. I love my children. I will die for Hua and Dao but it's Dayu that is keeping me alive. Knowing he is here with me...is my greatest happiness.

It's selfish I know...but that is my truth. Dayu is the reason why I am living.

"I want someone to look at Hua the same way you look at me, Captain. With love and desire in their eyes," Dayu smiled. "What about you, what kind of man you want our Hua to marry?"

I stared at Dayu. "Someone who will care for her more than the care we can give her. Someone who will fight for her harder than how we fight for Hua. Someone who will love her more than the love we are giving her. I want someone with a heart that he will give wholly to our Hua. Not some Prince who will one day be an Emperor and serve his people. Not a general who will leave her for war. Someone better than me..."

Dayu turned a little sad at that. "But you are the best man there is, Captain? Who can be better than you?"

"The man Hua will choose to love and give her devotion to." I said.

Dayu smiled. We walked again. "You are right. In the end, it will not be our choice but it will be Hua's choice."

I glance at Dayu. "And if Hua chose a Prince?" I asked.